Case Study

CASTLE HILL RSL CLUB

Stage 2: Trigeneration Project

Background
The origins of Castle Hill RSL Club can be traced back to
1932, when the “Hills District Returned Sailors and Soldiers
Club” was formed to assist World War 1 veterans and their
families. In 1974 the club moved to the present site of nearly
5 hectares, offering members entertainment, gaming, food,
beverages, functions, sporting and fitness/aquatic needs.
Since 1974, there have been ongoing renovations and
alterations to the premises to maintain and enhance member
services.
Castle Hill RSL Club is a step ahead in sustainability matters
within the industry, and in recognition of its environmental
strategies, the club has been awarded the 10 Year
Project Name: Castle Hill RSL Club Trigeneration Project Achievement Certificate as part of the 2012 NSW Green
Globe Awards. Its integral approach to sustainability includes
Site owner: Castle Hill RSL Club BMS systems on lighting, air conditioning and chillers, heat
exchangers, power factor correction units and water, paper,
System supplier: Simons Green Energy and cardboard recycling.
Trigeneration system components In September 2011, Castle Hill’s C2K Aquatic Centre
Cogeneration system details: launched its 142 kW Cogeneration system, a cutting edge
ENER-G Model 375 - 378kWe Cogeneration Unit technology that provides low-cost and low-carbon electricity,
• Total electrical output: 375 kW (e) heating for the swimming pools and domestic hot water to
• Total thermal output: 400 kW (t) the facilities. Since then, the Club has reduced its electricity
bill by approximately $80,000 per year and cut carbon
Absorption Chiller details: emissions by 540 tonnes per year, which is the equivalent to
Shuangliang Model HSB99H2 - 300kWth Absorption Chiller removing 120 cars off the road.
• Total chilled water output: 300 kW
With a major focus on improving energy efficiency and
Estimated payback period: 2.5 years supporting environmentally friendly practices, Castle Hill RSL
Club successfully applied for a $495,500 Community Energy
Carbon emissions reductions: 1208 Tonnes per annum Efficiency Program (CEEP) grant which provided co-funding
for the installation of a new 378 kW Trigeneration System.
Average cost savings: Approximately $250,000 per year
over the first 5 years. With an estimated payback period of 2.5 years, future energy
costs savings are expected to be an average of $250,000 per
Commissioning Date: August 2013 year over the first 5 years of operation, taking into account
assumed electricity and gas prices increases. A key benefit
System applications:
is a carbon emissions reduction of 49%, which is equivalent
• Electricity base load for Castle Hill RSL Club’s main building.
to removing 268 cars a year off the road.
• Heating, cooling and domestic hot water production
Simons Green Energy previously installed the first
Cogeneration System at Castle Hill RSL’s C2K Aquatic
Centre back in 2011 and were subsequently re-engaged to
supply and install the new Trigeneration System at the Club
This activity received funding from the Department of Climate Change and in 2013.
Energy Efficiency as part of the Community Energy Efficiency Program

Specialists in energy systems for over 80 years

 Castle Hill RSL Club – Trigeneration Project

Case Study
Natural Gas Heating

Hot Water or Steam Exhaust

to Building Gases Absorption Chiller

Boilers

Exhaust Gas Heat

Recovery Heat
Water Exchanger
Pipes

Fuel in Cooling

Catalytic
Converter
Air Intake

Cold Water in
Electricity
from Building

Diagram: Trigeneration system

What is Trigeneration? Grid-based electricity consumption will be down by 40%

Cogeneration, also known as Combined Heat and Power
(CHP), is the simultaneous production of two forms of
energy - electricity and heat - from a single fuel source.
Cogeneration uses a natural gas-powered engine to
generate electricity on site and converts the waste heat
from the engine into usable heat for space heating,
process heat for manufacturing, domestic hot water,
heating for swimming pools and similar applications. On
site Cogeneration Systems have a total efficiency of up
to 85%, as compared to the 30% efficiency of coal-fired
grid-supplied electricity.
Trigeneration is the combination of a Cogeneration
system and an Absorption Chiller which converts gas into
electricity, heating and cooling. The waste heat from the
Cogeneration system is converted into chilled water for
air conditioning, refrigeration or other cooling purposes.
On site electricity generated by a Cogeneration and
Trigeneration system is cheaper and cleaner than
coal-fired grid-supplied electricity. Cogeneration and
Trigeneration thereby provides substantial cost savings,
significantly improved energy efficiency and up to 50%
lower carbon emissions.
Project Delivery
Installation works commenced in mid June 2013, with
the Absorption chiller, adiabatic cooler, dump radiator
and loose items delivered and the mechanical plumbing
installed before the Cogeneration unit arrived to fast
track progress. The Cogeneration mechanical and
electrical installation was complete within a timeframe
Published on 15th May 2014 by SGE, M, J, D.
from current levels which will benefit the Club’s members
and the community through lower expenses and increased
profits that will be re-invested into the Club and the local
community. Castle Hill RSL Club is expected to reduce
its energy costs by an average of $250,000 a year.
The Trigeneration System is cutting the club’s CO2
emissions by 1208 tonnes per year which is equivalent to
removing 268 cars a year off the road.
Castle Hill RSL Club has enhance its commitments
towards environmentally friendly practices by producing
sustainable and cost effective electricity on site and
by dramatically reducing its carbon emissions for over
20 years.
Benefits
• 
Reduces energy cost by an average of $250,000
a year.
• Estimated return on investment of 29% per annum.
• 
Results in a payback period of approximately
2.5 years.
• Reduces carbon emissions by 1208 tonnes per annum
which is equivalent to removing 268 cars a year off the
road.
• Provides 378 kW of electricity.
• Produces 400 kW (t) of thermal output in the form of
hot water as a “free” by-product from the engine’s
waste heat stream.

of eight weeks to comply with the CEEP milestones

requirements. For further details contact us:
Successfully commissioned in early August 2013, the new Simons Green Energy Castle Hill RSL Club
Trigeneration System was launched in September 2013. Derek Simons Allan Depaoli
With a government grant contribution of approximately 1/33 Maddox Street 77 Castle Street
50% of the total costs, the estimated payback period Alexandria NSW 2015 Castle Hill NSW 2154
is 2.5 years. The expected return on investment is 29% Tel. +61 2 8338-8660 Tel. +61 2 8858-4800
per annum.

Delivering Results

T +61 2 8858 4800 T +61 2 8338 8660

www.castlehillrsl.com.au www.simonsgreenenergy.com